Elgin Golf Club was formed in 1906, starting as a 9-hole course on May 1907. The first green-keeper, John Macpherson, appointed in 1907, served continuously until his sudden death in 1951. During that period Mr Macpherson devoted his whole life to maintaining the course. The course was extended to 18 holes in 1924, and golf at this time was so popular the membership rose to 711. Elgin Golf Club is a testing heathland course measuring 6449 yards, with par of 69, and a standard scratch of 71, fully justifying its claim to be one of the finest inland courses in the northern part of Scotland.
Measuring 6,458 yards in total, Elgin plays to a Standard Scratch Score of 71 (two over the par for the course) so visitors to Moray who play here shouldn’t expect to pitch up to play a leisurely round of holiday golf! There may be only one par five at Elgin contributing to the overall length – the 483-yard “Hardhillock” 5th hole – but eight of the par fours on the card are longer than 400 yards, with three of them, from the 457-yard 8th to the 433-yard 10th, particularly demanding. The long fifth hole of 483 yards may be the toughest hole on the course as after a drive to lower ground, the player is faced with a long second shot which should reach the front of the approaches to the green set on a shelf on an uphill slope, with grassy banks either side, and steep bank at the back.
Only the long hitters can expect to get home in two, and even the pitch shot requires careful judgement if the par 5 is to be accomplished.
These three holes around the turn follow another delightful, old-fashioned feature at Elgin – back-to-back par threes – with the hefty 221-yard “Pines” 6th hole faced before the 167-yard “Road” hole at the 7th. The aspect at the short 169-yard seventh is from a built-up tee that gives a view of the green set on a slightly uphill slope at lower level. The tee-shot must be on target if it is not to catch hidden bunkers to the left and right of the green.
Little wonder Elgin Golf Club has fittingly named the first hole “John MacPherson” and the last hole “Gordon Wilken” after both club stalwarts!
